Health minister Dr Fenton Ferguson is commending efforts to focus on promoting healthy lifestyles in schools in observance Caribbean Wellness Day, September 8.

Dr Ferguson says the move, which is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Education, is to encourage healthy lifestyle habits, including increased physical activity and a healthy diet, which includes more fruits and vegetables, a reduction in alcohol consumption and no smoking.

According to the health minister, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major concern for Jamaica. He says in 2009 NCDs accounted for approximately 60 per cent of deaths among men and 75 per cent of deaths among women, which are above the number deaths caused by vehicular crashes.

Dr Ferguson says non-communicable diseases are no longer age specific and also affect children and adolescents.